CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 reverses the neurogenesis and behavioral recovery promoted by forced limb-use in stroke rats.
Forced limb-use can enhance neurogenesis and behavioral recovery as well as increasing the level of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in stroke rats. We examined whether the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway is involved in the enhanced neurogenesis and promoted behavioral recovery induced by forced limb-use in the chronic phase of stroke. The CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, was used to block the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway in the ischemic rats. Brain ischemia was induced by endothelin-1. One week after ischemia, the unimpaired forelimb of rats was immobilized for 3 weeks. The proliferation, migration, and survival of DCX-positive cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ), and the dendritic complexity of DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus (DG), as well as the inflammatory response in the infarcted striatum were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Functional recovery was assessed in beam-walking and water maze tests. Forced limb-use enhanced the proliferation, migration, dendritic complexity and the survival of newborn neurons. Furthermore, forced limb-use suppressed the inflammatory response and improved both motor and cognitive functions after stroke. AMD3100 significantly abrogated the enhanced neurogenesis and behavioral recovery induced by forced limb-use without influencing the inflammatory response. SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway seems to be involved in the enhancement of neurogenesis and behavioral recovery induced by post-stroke forced limb-use.


Langerin-expressing dendritic cells in human tissues are related to CD1c+ dendritic cells and distinct from Langerhans cells and CD141high XCR1+ dendritic cells.
Langerin is a C-type lectin expressed at high level by LCs of the epidermis. Langerin is also expressed by CD8(+)/CD103(+) XCR1(+) cross-presenting DCs of mice but is not found on the homologous human CD141(high) XCR1(+) myeloid DC. Here, we show that langerin is expressed at a low level on DCs isolated from dermis, lung, liver, and lymphoid tissue and that langerin(+) DCs are closely related to CD1c(+) myeloid DCs. They are distinguishable from LCs by the level of expression of CD1a, EpCAM, CD11b, CD11c, CD13, and CD33 and are found in tissues and tissue-draining LNs devoid of LCs. They are unrelated to CD141(high) XCR1(+) myeloid DCs, lacking the characteristic expression profile of cross-presenting DCs, conserved between mammalian species. Stem cell transplantation and DC deficiency models confirm that dermal langerin(+) DCs have an independent homeostasis to LCs. Langerin is not expressed by freshly isolated CD1c(+) blood DCs but is rapidly induced on CD1c(+) DCs by serum or TGF-β via an ALK-3-dependent pathway. These results show that langerin is expressed outside of the LC compartment of humans and highlight a species difference: langerin is expressed by the XCR1(+) "DC1" population of mice but is restricted to the CD1c(+) "DC2" population of humans (homologous to CD11b(+) DCs in the mouse).


Digestion with matrix-bound proteases as a possible probe for the topography of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli.
DNA-dependent RNA polymerase lacking subunit sigma was digested with matrix-bound chymotrypsin or trypsin in the presence of 0.4 M NaCl in the monomeric form or at low ionic strength in the oligomeric form. Sigma-containing polymerase was digested in the same way. The course of proteolysis was followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after dissociation of the enzyme with detergent into subunits and the fragments produced by the hydrolysis. The following results were obtained. (a) The large subunits beta and beta' are cleaved with a much higher rate in the monomeric than in the oligomeric polymerase. (b) Both large subunits are hydrolysed with the same rate. (c) Subunit alpha is hydrolysed almost with the same rate in the monomeric and oligomeric form of polymerase. (d) The same was found for subunit sigma. (e) These effects were independent of the substrate specificity of the protease used. (f) Subunit sigma is much more susceptible to chymotrypsin than to trypsin. (g) Subunit sigma protects the large subunits beta and beta' against tryptic cleavage. These results can be explained in terms of a tentative model for the topography of the protomer-protomer interactions in RNA polymerase. According to this model subunits beta and beta' contain two sites for isologous interactions of protomers. One site can be blocked by attachment of subunit sigma. Subunits alpha and sigma do not participate directly in the association.


Cation-Templated Self-Assembly of a Lipophilic Deoxyguanosine: Solution Structure of a K+-dG8 Octamer.
The lipophilic nucleoside 3',5'-didecanoyl-2'-deoxyguanosine, dG 1, extracts potassium salts from water into organic solvents. The K+ extraction drives the self-association of dG 1 to give G-quartet structures. A series of 1H NMR experiments indicates that the identity of the assembled species in CDCl3 is modulated by the amount of K+ extracted by dG 1. At an 8:1 dG 1 to K+ picrate ratio, the octamer (dG 1)8-K+ predominates in solution. The (dG 1)8-K+ supramolecular complex, formed by coordination of a single K+ ion by eight dG 1 monomers, is robust and structurally unique. The 1H NMR chemical shifts for both the exchangeable and nonexchangeable protons of (dG 1)8-KI in CDCl3 were assigned from a combination of 2D 1H-1H and 13C-1H correlation experiments. One set of 1H NMR signals corresponds to a dG 1 nucleoside with an anti conformation about the C(1')-N(9) glycosidic bond, whereas the other set of signals is due to 50% of the didecanoyl dG 1 adopting a syn conformation. Although the possible arrangements of an octamer containing a 1:1 ratio of anti dG 1 to syn dG 1 are many, the present NMR analysis leads to a defined single species composed of two G-quartets. In one tetramer, all of the dG 1 components have a syn conformation about the C(1')-N(9) glycosidic bond, while the other tetramer has an "all-anti" conformation. Moreover, intertetramer NOEs are consistent with stacking of the "all-anti" tetramer in a "head-to-tail" orientation on top of the "all-syn" tetramer, thus sandwiching a central K+ ion. This solution structure is, to our knowledge, different from all of the assembled structures described so far for guanine aggregates. Presumably, the K+-bound octamer represents the first observable stage of the assembly process in the aggregation of dG 1.


Correction: Ca10Na10[Te9O42](H2O): a hydrothermally synthesized quaternary tellurium(vi) oxide containing edge-sharing octahedral trimers.
Correction for 'Ca10Na10[Te9O42](H2O): a hydrothermally synthesized quaternary tellurium(vi) oxide containing edge-sharing octahedral trimers' by Li-Yun Zhang, et al., Dalton Trans., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9dt03521d.


Diagnostic dilemma in acute neurological presentation of spinal arachnoid cysts: A case report.
Spinal arachnoid cysts are relatively uncommon, cerebrospinal fluid-filled sacs formed by arachnoid membranes that can be either idiopathic or acquired. The neurological presentation of these cysts is varied. Advances in imaging techniques have allowed an improved characterization of these entities and excluded other possible causes of clinical manifestation. Their presentation remains varied, ranging from pain to progressive neurological deficits. Here, we present two cases of patients with thoracic arachnoid cysts that posed a diagnostic dilemma at initial presentation because of their acute neurological deficit, and their eventual recovery after surgical intervention. The first case is of a patient with end-stage renal failure, which prevented the administration of contrast during the workup. The differential diagnosis ranged from intradural abscess to arachnoid cyst. The second patient presented with non-remitting back pain that progressed to an acute neurological deficit. Both patients recovered well after decompression of the cyst. The decision to intervene is still patient-dependent and based on the extent of neurological deterioration at the time of presentation due to the relatively benign nature and lack of understanding of the temporal presentation of neurological symptoms, which are rapidly and almost completely reversed after surgery. However, further studies need to be done to understand the acute presentation of these cysts, which are apparently long-standing.


Review of single incision laparoscopic surgery in colorectal surgery.
As surgical techniques continue to move towards less invasive techniques, single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), a hybrid between traditional multiport laparoscopy and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, was introduced to further the enhanced outcomes of multiport laparoscopy. The safety and feasibility of SILS for both benign and malignant colorectal disease has been proven. SILS provides the potential for improved cosmesis, postoperative pain, recovery time, and quality of life at the drawback of higher technical skill required. In this article, we review the history, describe the available technology and techniques, and evaluate the benefits and limitations of SILS for colorectal surgery in the published literature.


[Speech therapy for Aphasia following cerebrovascular accident].
Cerebrovascular accidents of the dominant hemisphere often result in aphasia. In this article the different types of aphasia are briefly explained and the pattern of spontaneous recovery, as well as the determining factors for the evolution, are discussed. Some therapeutic approaches are outlined and the main studies investigating the efficacy and specificity of speech therapy are presented. Finally, criteria for the selection of patients for intensive speech therapy are suggested.


High-power Si-Ge photodiode assisted by doping regulation.
High-power silicon-based photodiodes are key components in many silicon photonics systems, such as microwave photonics systems, an optical interconnection system with multi-level modulation formats, etc. Usually, the saturation power of the silicon-germanium (Si-Ge) photodiode is limited by the space-charge screening (SCS) effect and the feasibility of the fabrication process. Here, we propose a high saturation power Si-Ge photodiode assisted by doping regulation. Through alleviating the SCS effect of the photodiode, we successfully demonstrate an 85.7% improvement on the saturation power and a 57% improvement on the -1 dB compression photocurrent. The proposed high-power Si-Ge photodiode requires no specific fabrication process and will promote the low-cost integrated silicon photonics systems for more applications.


Transmission electron microscopy study of the effects of zinc overdose on mouse liver tissue.
Thirty adult male mice were divided into three groups. The animals in group I were used as controls and drank only water during the entire period of experimentation. Group II animals drank water containing 1.5 g/100 mL zinc as ZnSO4, and group III animals received 2.5 g/100 mL zinc. After 3 wk supplementation with high doses of zinc, the animals were killed and the livers were removed and examined by electron microscopic techniques. After the supplementation period, the animals in groups II and II showed various degrees of degenerative changes in the hepatocytes, such as increased size and the presence of spaces and an abundance of lipid globules in the cytoplasm. The mitochondria showed a crystalline appearance, a diluted matrix, and dense aggregations. Some smooth endoplasmic reticulum tubules showed dilation and were filled with a dense substance. None of these changes were present in the group I control animals.


CREB, cellular excitability, and cognition: Implications for aging.
Humans and laboratory animals display cognitive deficits as they age. However, there are currently no effective therapies available to treat these deficits, as the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Studies using pharmacological compounds have found a link between cognitive performance and the intrinsic cellular excitability of CA1 hippocampal neurons. Therefore, it is of great interest to identify molecular regulators that may be influencing both cognition and neuronal excitability, which could be changed with age. One possible regulator is the transcription factor cAMP response element binding-protein (CREB). In young adult animals, manipulation of CREB activity has resulted in modulation of both cognitive performance on behavioral tasks, and neuronal excitability. While evidence is sparse, studies also point to a dysfunction in CREB signaling with aging. We propose that CREB may be a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of age-related cognitive deficits, along with potential experiments to test this hypothesis.


Endothelial function and circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with sleep apnea syndrome.
Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases are frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to repair dysfunctional endothelium and have been related to increased cardiovascular risk. We tested the hypothesis that the number of circulating EPCs may be altered in OSA patients. EPCs (CD34+ VEGF-R2+) were isolated and quantified from peripheral blood samples of OSA patients (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 13) matched for age and sex. All subjects were free of any other known cardiovascular risk factors. The plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also determined, and the endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular function was assessed in all subjects. Patients with OSA had lower levels of EPCs (p < 0.05) and higher plasma levels of VEGF (p < 0.05) than controls. Endothelial function was not different between OSA and controls. Patients with OSA free of any other known cardiovascular risk factor show a reduced number of circulating EPCs and an increase in plasma VEGF levels. These alterations may contribute to future endothelial dysfunction in these patients.


[Role of the involvement of the reticular formation in the dementia of Parkinson's disease].
A post mortem study of 14 cases of Parkinson's disease was reported. Seven patients were mentally deteriorated and 7 were not, retrospectively. The semiquantitative study of the cortical lesions of senile dementia of Alzheimer type did not show any recognizable difference between the 2 groups. A greater degree of neuronal cell loss in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in the mentally deteriorated group was confirmed. The incidence of Lewy bodies in the brain stem reticular formation was remarkably increased in the mentally deteriorated group. A study of the reticular formation, including the raphe nuclei and the magnocellular nuclei of mid pons and upper medulla, revealed a significant higher incidence of Lewy bodies throughout the whole reticular formation in the mentally deteriorated group. The possible role of the lesions of the ascending reticular activating system in the mental deterioration is discussed.


Thermodynamics and the glass transition in model energy landscapes.
We determine the liquid-state thermodynamics for a model energy landscape corresponding to soft spheres with a mean-field attraction. We consider two approximations, in which the distribution of potential energy minima is either Gaussian or binomial, and for each we calculate the liquid spinodal, binodal, and "effective" glass transition locus. The resulting models provide a unified description of the liquid state across the complete range from low-temperature glassiness to high-temperature instability with respect to the vapor phase.


[Utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in head and neck masses].
We investigated the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for head and neck masses, and compared FNAB results with histopathologic diagnoses. In a group of 352 patients (168 males, 184 females; mean age 44+/-19 years; range 2 to 94 years) who were operated on for head and neck masses, FNAB was performed in 167 patients (47.4%). The results of FNAB were compared with histopathologic diagnoses in four groups of localization: parotid, thyroid, submandibular gland, and cervical levels. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive rates of FNAB were calculated for each group. There were 64 parotid (38.3%), 29 thyroid (17.4%), 19 level V (11.4%), 18 level II (10.8%), 14 level III (8.4%), 9 level I (5.4%), and 7 submandibular gland (4.2%) masses. The overall correlation of FNAB with histopathologic diagnoses was 71.9%, being 76.6% in parotid, 75.9% in thyroid, 57.1% in submandibular gland, and 67.2% in neck (levels I-VI) masses. The highest sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive rates were determined for parotid masses (98%, 93.3%, 98%, 93.3%, respectively), whereas the lowest rates were obtained in submandibular gland masses (50%, 66.7%, 66.7%, 50%, respectively). The use of FNAB for head and neck masses, in particular parotid masses, provides considerable contribution to treatment planning.


Phenylalanine-mediated changes in the soil bacterial community promote nitrogen cycling and plant growth.
Soil amino acids (AAs) are the most active components of soil N, which can be mineralized or absorbed by bacteria as N and C sources. We hypothesized that exogenous AAs could regulate the bacterial community and affect soil N cycling, and the effect sizes could vary depending on individual AAs. Here, we applied feather (keratin)-based compost rich in AAs to Poncirus trifoliata (L.) to evaluate the regulation of bacterial community by AAs; furthermore, we applied six individual AAs to test their effects. The compost significantly increased soil hydrolysable AA content, ammonia monooxygenase gene abundance, and plant growth and changed bacterial community structure. Redundancy analysis revealed that the effects of AAs on the bacterial community composition were greater than those of soil chemical properties, and phenylalanine (Phe) was the most effective among thirteen individual AAs. When applied individually, Phe caused the greatest increase in N cycling-related enzyme activity and plant growth and most significantly altered the bacterial community structure among the six exogenous AAs. Notably, Phe significantly increased the relative abundances of Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Azospirillum, Cupriavidus, and Achromobacter, whose abundances were significantly positively correlated with plant biomass, and significantly reduced the relative abundances of Arachidicoccus, Pseudopedobacter, Sphingobacterium, and Paenibacillus, whose abundances were significantly negatively correlated with plant biomass. We demonstrate that soil AAs strongly shape the bacterial community. Particularly, Phe enhances N cycling and plant growth by increasing the potentially beneficial bacterial taxa and inhibiting the potentially harmful bacterial taxa, which needs further validation.


[The effect of intravenous ciprofloxacin for community acquired pneumonia in adults].
To verify the indication of intravenous fluoroquinolone in guideline for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia published in Japanese Respiratory Society, the effect of intravenous ciprofloxacin was investigated in this study. 49 cases of community-acquired pneumonia were treated by intravenous ciprofloxacin. Total response rate was 77.1%. 66.7% of response rate was achieved even in the cases which other antibiotics had been already introduced and failed. The data of this study indicated that intravenous ciprofloxacin was one of the effective and appropriate therapeutics for community-acquired pneumonia in adults.


Composition and hierarchical organisation of a spider silk.
Albeit silks are fairly well understood on a molecular level, their hierarchical organisation and the full complexity of constituents in the spun fibre remain poorly defined. Here we link morphological defined structural elements in dragline silk of Nephila clavipes to their biochemical composition and physicochemical properties. Five layers of different make-ups could be distinguished. Of these only the two core layers contained the known silk proteins, but all can vitally contribute to the mechanical performance or properties of the silk fibre. Understanding the composite nature of silk and its supra-molecular organisation will open avenues in the production of high performance fibres based on artificially spun silk material.


Antibiotic Stewardship in Outpatient Telemedicine: Adapting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Core Elements to Optimize Antibiotic Use.
The rapid expansion of telemedicine has highlighted challenges and opportunities to improve antibiotic use and effectively adapt antibiotic stewardship best practices to outpatient telemedicine settings. Antibiotic stewardship integration into telemedicine is essential to optimize antibiotic prescribing for patients and ensure health care quality. We performed a narrative review of published literature on antibiotic prescribing and stewardship in outpatient telemedicine to inform the adaptation of the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship framework to outpatient telemedicine settings. Our narrative review suggests that in-person antibiotic stewardship interventions can be adapted to outpatient telemedicine settings. We present considerations for applying the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship to outpatient telemedicine which builds upon growing evidence describing care delivery and quality improvement in this setting. Additional applied implementation research is necessary to inform the application of effective, sustainable, and equitable antibiotic stewardship interventions across the spectrum of outpatient telemedicine.


Task Dependence, Tissue Specificity, and Spatial Distribution of Widespread Activations in Large Single-Subject Functional MRI Datasets at 7T.
It was recently shown that when large amounts of task-based blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) data are combined to increase contrast- and temporal signal-to-noise ratios, the majority of the brain shows significant hemodynamic responses time-locked with the experimental paradigm. Here, we investigate the biological significance of such widespread activations. First, the relationship between activation extent and task demands was investigated by varying cognitive load across participants. Second, the tissue specificity of responses was probed using the better BOLD signal localization capabilities of a 7T scanner. Finally, the spatial distribution of 3 primary response types--namely positively sustained (pSUS), negatively sustained (nSUS), and transient--was evaluated using a newly defined voxel-wise waveshape index that permits separation of responses based on their temporal signature. About 86% of gray matter (GM) became significantly active when all data entered the analysis for the most complex task. Activation extent scaled with task load and largely followed the GM contour. The most common response type was nSUS BOLD, irrespective of the task. Our results suggest that widespread activations associated with extremely large single-subject functional magnetic resonance imaging datasets can provide valuable information about the functional organization of the brain that goes undetected in smaller sample sizes.


Carbon materials in the treatment of soft and hard tissue injuries.
Carbon-based implant materials are of interest because they are well accepted by the biological environment. Carbon fibrous materials developed in the Department of Special Ceramics of the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow were tested in in vivo studies to determine their influence on the living body. For comparative purposes, different carbon fibers were prepared and subjected to different surface modifications. Carbon materials prepared in the form of braids were implanted in subcutaneous tissue of rabbits and into skeletal muscle of rats. Carbon fabrics were examined as scaffolds in reconstruction of bone defects. The present study examined the synthesis-structure-property relationships of fibrous carbon samples with respect to the tissue response. It was shown that the tissue response depends on the form of the material form, the degree of order of the crystallites, the surface state and microstructural parameters. Carbon fibers with higher crystallinity and a better-organized graphite structure were assimilated by the body with more difficulty and small particles coming from these materials were found in the regional lymph nodes. Low-carbonized carbon fibers (small crystallite size) underwent partial fragmentation and reacted with the biological environment by being gradually resorbed in the implantation site. The presence of acidic groups on the surface of the carbon fibers enhanced phagocytosis of the carbon material by macrophages. Depending on the surface state of carbon fibers different rates of bone wound healing were observed.


A Rare Case of a Combination of Tessier Cleft 0 and 3 in a 4-Year-Old Child-A Case Report.
Description and successful management of a patient with Tessier no. 0 and 3 facial cleft is being presented. Appropriate evaluation was done to rule out the presence of median cleft face syndrome. Lip cleft was repaired by straight line technique with staggering at the vermilion border. Nasal cleft was reconstructed by a transposition flap and the flap taken from the upper lip after correction of the midline cleft. Satisfactory outcome was achieved for this singular deformity by conforming to the basic tenets of plastic surgery.


Effects of an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker (prazosin HCl) on micturition disturbances associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy.
The effects of prazosin HCl treatment on several variables were determined in 16 patients suffering from micturition disturbances associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy. After administration of the drug in doses of 1-2 mg/day, subjective symptoms improved in 11 patients (68.8%). Urine retention rate, maximum urine flow rate, and average urine flow rate exhibited statistically significant improvement, but voided urine volume did not. Urethral pressures declined significantly in the bladder neck and prostatic urethra but not in the pressure at the external sphincter. The results suggest prazosin HCl may be effective in small doses in symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy.


Effect of atmosphere composition on the quality of ready-to-use broccoli raab (Brassica rapa L.).
Many leafy brassicas are widely used for ready-to-use salads. Broccoli raab (Brassica rapa L.), also called turnip top, or rapini, is extensively cultivated in southern Italy. The edible portion is made up of the green, immature inflorescences and the stem with its most tender leaves. Recently, interest in this crop has increased among European consumers; moreover, a substantial increase in consumption could come from the ready-to-use product. The effects of four different atmosphere compositions (air, 3% O(2) in nitrogen, 3% O(2) + 10% CO(2) in air, and 10% CO(2) in air) on quality attributes of ready-to-use broccoli raab were studied. Controlled atmosphere affected appearance, composition, respiration rate, weight loss, and presence of off-odours. Storage of broccoli raab florets under low oxygen conditions delayed post-cutting deterioration during storage at 5 degrees C and preserved appearance and typical odour, up to 17 days. Moreover, respiration rate as well as loss of green colour, chlorophyll and vitamin C were also slowed down in this condition. Finally, in this study no effect of controlled atmosphere storage was found on total phenols content and antioxidant activity. Results showed that cold storage in 3% O(2) can be beneficial in order to maintain quality of ready-to-use, broccoli raab for up to 17 days.


Molecular Drug Discovery of Single Ginsenoside Compounds as a Potent Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor.
: Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is known as a direct regulator of inflammasome, which is an intracellular target to therapeutically modulate innate immunity. Although there is great interest in developing small molecule-based drugs with BTK inhibition, there are only a few drugs available in the market, due to the difficulty of drug discovery and the potential side effects. To select suitable drug compounds to inhibit BTK signaling, molecular drug screening bioassay processes of single ginsenosides integrated with in silico molecular simulation were performed. The experimental results for the ginsenoside compositions (Rb2 and Rb3) exhibited showed that they effectively suppressed the activity of BTK expression in a rational agreement with molecular docking calculations of the compounds against the BTK binding site. They implemented a possible inhibiting effect of BTK signaling through increasing their molecular affinity for targeting BTK, enabling them to be useful in treating BTK-mediated diseases.


Supervision and training in child care: Does reflective supervision foster caregiver insightfulness?
The goal of this study was to explore the effects of reflective and traditional supervision and training on caregiver insightfulness. Caregiver insightfulness, or caregiver ability to understand "motives underlying the child's behavior in a complete, open, and accepting way" (D. Oppenheim, D. Goldsmith, & N. Koren-Karie, 2004, p. 352) was assessed at two time points with 21 new caregivers at two university-based childcare sites. Trends suggest that caregiver insightfulness was relatively stable while increased levels of components of caregiver insightfulness over a period of approximately 2.5 months were positively associated with reflective supervision and training. These findings suggest that encouraging caregivers to reflect on their interactions with the children in their care fosters caregivers' ability to see from the child's perspective in an open and accepting way.


Predictors of Self-medication in Iran: A Notional Survey Study.
While logical use of medicine is a priority in all health systems, people do self-medication- mainly using Nonprescription Drugs or Over the Counter (OTC) drugs- for different reasons. Self-medication is rising in many developing countries that could increase healthcare expenditure. The present study aimed to find the self-medication rate and predisposing, enabling, and need factors affecting it based on the Anderson behavioral model in the Iranian population. The present study uses 22470 households' data acquired from Iranian utilization of healthcare survey at the national level (2016). Due to the study objective, the data of 13005 people who were over 15 years old and had outpatient healthcare needs two weeks before the survey. The survey included a binary question about self-medication, which is considered a dependent variable. Age, gender, marital status, literacy, job status, socio-economic status, location, basic health insurance, complementary health insurance, and need for health services were considered as independent variables. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. The self-medication rate was calculated at 26.3% that was different among different subgroups of the population. According to the model estimates, married (OR = 0.80, CI = 0.71-0.91) and housekeepers (OR = 0.79, CI = 0.67-0.93) had significantly lower self-medication. Moreover, the urban population (OR = 1.29, CI = 1.17-1.43), people without basic (OR = 1.32, CI = 1.10-1.58), and supplementary (OR = 1.18, CI = 1.04-1.35) health insurance and also people who had two or higher number of outpatient healthcare needs had significantly more self-medication (OR = 2.96, CI = 2.67-3.29). It can be concluded that need, enabling, and predisposing factors are respectively the main determinants of self-medication behavior. From a policy point of view, increasing effective health insurance coverage with a focus on people who have more health care needs can be helpful.


Histological findings of capsular delamination of the lens.
Histological findings in a 75-year-old man with idiopathic capsular delamination were reported. The anterior capsules were obtained during extracapsular cataract extraction, and examined by light and electron microscope. The epithelial side of the anterior capsules protruded towards the anterior chamber at the edge of the delaminated areas. This finding has not been described previously, and the defect in this fragile region was thought to be the cause of capsular delamination.


[Impact of reclaimed water irrigation on soil chemical properties and culturable microorganisms ].
This research used batch soil column experiment to study the effects of irrigating with reclaimed water and tap water on the soil chemical properties and culturable microorganisms. The results indicated that reclaimed water could markedly increase the soil organic material (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) content, but it had no obvious effect on total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP) and pH value. Reclaimed water irrigation could significantly enhance the amounts of surface soil bacteria and actinomycetes at a depth of 0-20 cm, but it had little effect on the biomass of 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm soil layers. The dominant bacteria in tap water irrigation area was the genus Bacillus whereas that of reclaimed water irrigation area was the genus Acinetobacter. Tap water irrigation area had four endemic genera and reclaimed water irrigation area had six endemic genera. Reclaimed water had no obvious effect on the microbial community Shannon diversity of 0-20 cm soil layer, while it decreased Pielou evenness index, and improved Margalef richness index. Through SPSS 17. 0 correlation analysis between soil microbes quantity and soil chemical properties, it was shown that the soil microbes quantity was positively correlated with OM, TN, TP and AP, but negatively correlated with soil water content (SWC) and pH value. Based on CANOCO 4.5 detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) between soil microbes species and soil chemical properties, it was shown that AP had the strongest correlation with the microbial community (P = 0.002). TN and TP had larger impact on Streptococcus, Aeromonas and Neisseria. OM and AP had larger impact on Aerococcus, Planococcus and Halobacterium.


Identification of QTL and Qualitative Trait Loci for Agronomic Traits Using SNP Markers in the Adzuki Bean.
The adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important grain legume. Fine mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and qualitative trait genes plays an important role in gene cloning, molecular-marker-assisted selection (MAS), and trait improvement. However, the genetic control of agronomic traits in the adzuki bean remains poorly understood. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are invaluable in the construction of high-density genetic maps. We mapped 26 agronomic QTLs and five qualitative trait genes related to pigmentation using 1,571 polymorphic SNP markers from the adzuki bean genome via restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing of 150 members of an F2 population derived from a cross between cultivated and wild adzuki beans. We mapped 11 QTLs for flowering time and pod maturity on chromosomes 4, 7, and 10. Six 100-seed weight (SD100WT) QTLs were detected. Two major flowering time QTLs were located on chromosome 4, firstly VaFld4.1 (PEVs 71.3%), co-segregating with SNP marker s690-144110, and VaFld4.2 (PEVs 67.6%) at a 0.974 cM genetic distance from the SNP marker s165-116310. Three QTLs for seed number per pod (Snp3.1, Snp3.2, and Snp4.1) were mapped on chromosomes 3 and 4. One QTL VaSdt4.1 of seed thickness (SDT) and three QTLs for branch number on the main stem were detected on chromosome 4. QTLs for maximum leaf width (LFMW) and stem internode length were mapped to chromosomes 2 and 9, respectively. Trait genes controlling the color of the seed coat, pod, stem and flower were mapped to chromosomes 3 and 1. Three candidate genes, VaAGL, VaPhyE, and VaAP2, were identified for flowering time and pod maturity. VaAGL encodes an agamous-like MADS-box protein of 379 amino acids. VaPhyE encodes a phytochrome E protein of 1,121 amino acids. Four phytochrome genes (VaPhyA1, VaPhyA2, VaPhyB, and VaPhyE) were identified in the adzuki bean genome. We found candidate genes VaAP2/ERF.81 and VaAP2/ERF.82 of SD100WT, VaAP2-s4 of SDT, and VaAP2/ERF.86 of LFMW. A candidate gene VaUGT related to black seed coat color was identified. These mapped QTL and qualitative trait genes provide information helpful for future adzuki bean candidate gene cloning and MAS breeding to improve cultivars with desirable growth periods, yields, and seed coat color types.


Effective Contact Potential of Thin Film Metal-Insulator Nanostructures and Its Role in Self-Powered Nanofilm X-ray Sensors.
We studied the effective contact potential difference (ECPD) of thin film nanostructures and its role in self-powered X-ray sensors, which use the high-energy current detection scheme. We compared the response to kilovoltage X-rays of several nanostructures made of disparate combinations of conductors (Al, Cu, Ta, ITO) and oxides (SiO2, Ta2O5, Al2O3). We measured current-voltage curves in parallel-plate configuration separated by an air gap and determined three characteristic parameters: current at zero voltage bias I0, the voltage offset for zero current ECPD, and saturation current Isat. We found that the metals' ECPD values measured with our technique were higher than the CPD values measured with photoelectron spectroscopy in situ, i.e., no air contact. These differences are related to natural oxidization and to the presence of photo-/Auger-electron current leaking from the high-Z toward the low-Z electrode, as suggested by additional experiments carried out in vacuum. Further, the deposition of the 40-500 nm oxide layer on the surface of metallic substrates strongly affects their contact potential. This technique exploits ionization and charge carrier transport in both solid insulators and in air, and it opens the possibility of measuring the ECPD between metals separated by a solid insulator in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) configuration. Additionally, we demonstrated that certain configurations of MIM structures are suitable for X-ray detection in self-powered mode.


Hyponatraemia-associated catatonia.
This is a case report highlighting the impact of low sodium levels on one's mental status. For the first time in the literature, we see two discrete episodes of catatonia associated with hyponatraemia occurring in the same patient. On both occasions, his serum sodium levels were depleted; he became profoundly psychotic with catatonic symptoms. Recovery, with complete resolution of all symptoms, was associated with normalisation of these levels. This case exemplifies the profound effect that electrolyte imbalances, in particular sodium depletion can have on a patient's mental status and is for the first time, we see this effect on two temporally unrelated occasions in the same patient.


Monte Carlo modeling of scintillation detectors for continuous underground radon monitoring.
Nuclear simulation methods were applied to two systems that investigate radon transport within geological porous media: a) a laboratory system built to test, under controlled climate conditions, the effect of temperature on radon transport, and b) a field monitoring system comprising gamma and alpha detectors in an abandoned water well. The use of Monte Carlo simulations of NaI and BGO scintillation detectors in continuous underground radon measurements by gamma counting, to estimate the photon flux in the detector volume, is presented. The advantages of shielding side-view NaI detectors were demonstrated for a laboratory system containing ground phosphate rock, including avoiding high counting rates and reducing the effective source volume in radon transport studies. The gross gamma counting procedure was shown to result in a lower uncertainty than spectrometric measurement, by at least a factor of two, despite it being a simpler and more suitable procedure for field measurements. The calculation of simulated source volumes for a BGO detector in a borehole and the measurements in the field support the assumption that the gamma signal comes primarily from radon flowing in the bedrock's air-filled pores. As a practical outcome of this study, positioning the detector a few cm off-center from the borehole's axis increased the gamma counting efficiency; however, measurements in groundwater taken too close to the iron casing had a lower detection efficiency. The conversion factor from the scintillator signal to the radon activity concentration, for the laboratory system, was calculated. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated the advantages of the gross counting procedures using gamma scintillation detectors in field underground high-frequency radon monitoring.


Exploring the Divergent Reactivity of Vinyl Radicals Emanating from Alkynes and Thiols via Photoredox Catalysis.
Organic chemistry has seen a surge in visible-light-driven transformations, which offer unique reaction pathways and access to new synthetic possibilities. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of state-of-the-art photo-mediated alkyne functionalization, with a focus on the reactive behavior of vinyl radicals. This review outlines our contributions to the field, including developing new methods for forming carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds.


The Aachen-keratoprosthesis--a flexible KPro that permits intraocular pressure measurement.
Postoperative glaucoma is one of the major complications observed in patients with keratoprostheses (KPro). The optical components of the majority of KPros are rigid and inflexible, which prevents indirect tonometry by common methods. This study confirms that the Aachen-KPro allows measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) due to its flexible optical part with a modified Schiotz tonometer. The Aachen-KPro was placed in a special chamber where pressure can be generated and monitored by a transducer. Measurements were taken by common ophthalmologic methods. The results were compared to the initial pressure values in the chamber. With the Goldmann tonometer, the Tono-Pen and the topography system (Technomed), no significant pressure changes could be observed. The results of the Schiotz tonometer were promising. It was slightly modified and standard curves with different weights could be obtained. With a modified Schiotz tonometer, it is possible to detect elevated IOPs. Modifying this common instrument is inexpensive and can be easily performed. This advantage of the Aachen-KPro permits early management of postoperative high tension glaucoma.


The organ culture of adult human articular cartilage, from patients with osteoarthrosis.
Adult human articular cartilage has been maintained in organ culture for three days. The uptake of 35SO4 has been studied over a 48-hour period. The incorporation of 35SO4 was significantly increased in osteoarthrotic cartilage compared to normal cartilage from the same joints. The uronic acid content of the osteoarthrotic cartilage was significantly reduced which reflects the proteoglycan loss in the diseased tissue. The DNA content, which is an indirect measurement of the cell population, was not significantly different in the diseased and normal cartilage.


Identifying knowledge practices in an infodemic era: Rediscovering the professional identities of LIS professionals in an infodiverse environment.
The professional identity of librarians is established with regard to the current understanding of their knowledge practices. The global phenomenon of false and untrustworthy information circulating on social media platforms paints a new issue that librarians must conquer. Messages, content, news, and information on the web make it challenging for librarians to educate users as to where the sources come from and the need to evaluate for credibility and trustworthiness. During the pandemic, and with a surge of information disorders on social media, the World Health Organization recommended building resilience to misinform-ation and engaging and empowering communities to take positive action. This research seeks to explore the relationship between professional identities and the participation of librarians in an infodiverse environment, specifically by exploring how Filipino librarians applied aspects of their knowledge practices to the evaluation of social media health information during the pandemic.


Evaluation of 172 candidate polymorphisms for association with oligozoospermia or azoospermia in a large cohort of men of European descent.
In spite of tremendous efforts by a number of groups, the search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly associated with male factor infertility by means of gene re-sequencing studies has yielded few likely candidates. A recent pilot, genome-wide SNP association study (GWAS) identified a list of SNPs associated with oligozoospermia and azoospermia. This is an expanded follow-up study of the SNPs identified by the GWAS as well as other SNPs from previously published gene re-sequencing studies. On the basis of the pilot GWAS and SNPs with published associations with male infertility, 172 SNPs were genotyped in men with idiopathic azoospermia or oligozoospermia using the Illumina BeadXpress platform. Several SNPs were identified or confirmed to be significantly associated with oligozoospermia and/or azoospermia. More importantly, this follow-up study indicates that, at least in Caucasian men, no single common SNP accounts for a significant proportion of spermatogenic failure cases. The associations reported in this study are promising, but much larger genome-wide studies will be necessary to confidently validate these SNPs and identify novel SNPs associated with male infertility.


Note: Maximum hardness and minimum electrophilicity principles.
We provide new arguments supporting the validity of the maximum hardness and the minimum electrophilicity principles, considering the overall change of these descriptors in a charge-transfer reaction. We analyze two cases: (a) how the reactivity is affected when we perturb one reagent, keeping the other constant; (b) how the hardness and electrophilicity change when we treat the interaction between the reagents as a perturbation.


Attitudes and practices of breast cancer consultations regarding sexual issues: a nationwide survey of Japanese surgeons.
To investigate doctors' current practices and attitudes and correlates of sexuality-related consultations in clinical encounters. A nationwide, self-administered mail survey was conducted with 1,313 board-certified Japanese breast surgeons in August 2001. Surgeons were asked about their experiences regarding consultations about sexual issues, attitudes toward sex-related statements, and advice to a patient's hypothetical question on having sex after undergoing breast cancer treatment. Of the surveyed sample, 635 surgeons (50.3%) responded. Of these surgeons, 32.4% had been consulted about sexual issues by patients or families. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that female respondents (P < .01), respondents whose hospitals conduct a large number of breast cancer operations annually (P < .01), and respondents who agreed that "Surgeons have a professional responsibility to deal with patients' sexual issues" (P < .01) were significantly more likely to be consulted. Respondents who agreed that "If any sexual problem exists, patients will raise the topic before surgeons ask them" were less likely to be consulted (P < .05). Respondents' attitudes toward the sex-related statements showed that, although the majority recognized the importance of patients' sexuality-related concerns, they did not necessarily think that surgeons had a professional responsibility to deal with them. Regarding their advice in response to the question of "Are there any particular things to be careful about when having sex after surgery?", 32.8% answered "nothing in particular." This study shows that talking about sex-related topics is still repressed in patient-doctor encounters in Japan. It is an urgent matter to increase doctors' awareness and clinical skills to deal with patients' sexual issues.


In Vitro Evaluation of Lateral Femur Condyle Free Chondral Fragment Swelling after Soaking in Normal Saline.
After traumatic knee injuries, chondral fragments can avulse off bone with the progeny fragment becoming a loose body. The loose fragment may be larger than expected when trying to surgically repair the fragment back to its original site. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a loose chondral fragment from the lateral femur condyle would increase in size and weight after soaking in normal saline (NS) for 14 days. Twelve 6-mm OAT (osteoarticular transfer) plugs were harvested from 6 cadaver knees on the lateral femoral condyle to simulate a chondral fragment. The chondral fragments were then placed inside an airtight specimen container with NS (0.9% sodium chloride) and were measured over 14 days. After 14 days, the chondral fragments showed no increase in diameter as they measured an average of 5.567 ± 0.448 mm on Day 1 and 5.702 ± 0.253 mm on Day 14 (P = 0.183). The chondral fragments showed an increase in mass from an average of 0.058 ± 0.012 g on Day 1 to 0.073 ± 0.012 g on Day 14 (P < 0.001) and an increase in thickness from an average of 2.038 ± 0.346 mm on Day 1 to 2.229 ± 0.297 mm on Day 14 (P = 0.033). Chondral fragments in NS increase in mass and thickness over time, but do not change in diameter. When surgeons are evaluating loose chondral fragments for fixation, they should consider that these fragments may appear thicker than the recipient location.


Managing delirium and agitation in elderly hospitalized orthopaedic patients: Part I--Theoretical aspects.
Managing behavioral disorders such as delirium and agitation while simultaneously attending to the acute needs of elderly patients is a challenge that confronts orthopaedic nurses on a daily basis. This will only increase in frequency and complexity as the new century dawns. Delirium and agitation affect morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and costs--in short, outcomes. To manage and care for these patients, orthopaedic nurses must first update their knowledge of acute disorders that can disrupt mental status and behavior, and the effects of systemic events on brain function. With the knowledge of the pathophysiology of delirium and agitation, nurses then need to refine their assessment and intervention skills. This article describes the phenomena of agitation and delirium in the elderly acute orthopaedic patient, outlines current perceptions regarding pathophysiology, and offers guidelines for prevention and intervention. An algorithm has been developed that can assist with the identification of at-risk individuals, causes of delirium, and early assessments in the acute care setting.


GABA receptor agonists and extrapyramidal motor function: therapeutic implications for Parkinson's disease.
GABA receptor agonists display a dual action on DA-mediated events. One includes a decrease in DA release, reduction in DA receptor density, and decreased response of postsynaptic cells to dopaminergic stimulation; it results in antidopaminergic effects. The other consists of a reduction of striatal cholinergic activity resulting in a facilitation of dopaminergic effects. These two effects could be dissociated depending on the dose of GABA receptor agonists. This dual action probably explains the results of clinical trials showing either amelioration of parkinsonian symptoms with aggravation of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia or improvement of dyskinesia without or with aggravation of parkinsonian symptoms.


Building synapses: Using a synthetic approach to bridge synaptic membranes.
Synapses are specialized cellular junctions essential for communication between neurons. Synapse loss occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases. Harnessing our molecular knowledge of the development and maintenance of synapses, Suzuki et al. present the first comprehensive attempt to use a synthetic protein to bridge the pre- and postsynaptic membranes1. They show that this powerful approach can stimulate the formation of pre- and postsynaptic specializations in vitro, rescue synaptic deficits of mutant mice in vivo, and ameliorate synapse loss and behavioral abnormalities in both Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injury mouse models.


Karrikins enhance light responses during germination and seedling development in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Karrikins are a class of seed germination stimulants identified in smoke from wildfires. Microarray analysis of imbibed Arabidopsis thaliana seeds was performed to identify transcriptional responses to KAR(1) before germination. A small set of genes that are regulated by KAR(1), even when germination is prevented by the absence of gibberellin biosynthesis or light, were identified. Light-induced genes, putative HY5-binding targets, and ABRE-like promoter motifs were overrepresented among KAR(1)-up-regulated genes. KAR(1) transiently induced the light signal transduction transcription factor genes HY5 and HYH. Germination of afterripened Arabidopsis seed was triggered at lower fluences of red light when treated with KAR(1). Light-dependent cotyledon expansion and inhibition of hypocotyl elongation were enhanced in the presence of germination-active karrikins. HY5 is important for the Arabidopsis hypocotyl elongation, but not seed germination, response to karrikins. These results reveal a role for karrikins in priming light responses in the emerging seedling, and suggest that the influence of karrikins on postfire ecology may not be limited to germination recruitment.


Intracellular Cleavage of the Cx43 C-Terminal Domain by Matrix-Metalloproteases: A Novel Contributor to Inflammation?
The coordination of tissue function is mediated by gap junctions (GJs) that enable direct cell-cell transfer of metabolic and electric signals. GJs are formed by connexin (Cx) proteins of which Cx43 is most widespread in the human body. Beyond its role in direct intercellular communication, Cx43 also forms nonjunctional hemichannels (HCs) in the plasma membrane that mediate the release of paracrine signaling molecules in the extracellular environment. Both HC and GJ channel function are regulated by protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications that predominantly take place in the C-terminal domain of Cx43. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are a major group of zinc-dependent proteases, known to regulate not only extracellular matrix remodeling, but also processing of intracellular proteins. Together with Cx43 channels, both GJs and HCs, MMPs contribute to acute inflammation and a small number of studies reports on an MMP-Cx43 link. Here, we build further on these reports and present a novel hypothesis that describes proteolytic cleavage of the Cx43 C-terminal domain by MMPs and explores possibilities of how such cleavage events may affect Cx43 channel function. Finally, we set out how aberrant channel function resulting from cleavage can contribute to the acute inflammatory response during tissue injury.


Allelopathic effects of weeds extracts against seed germination of some plants.
This study investigated the allelopathic effects of various weeds extracts on seed germination of 11 crop species. Most of the weed extracts tested had inhibitory effects on seed germination of common bean, tomato, pepper, squash, onion, barley, wheat, and corn at different application rates as compared with the 10% acetone control. Chickpea seed germination was inhibited by extracts of Solanum nigrum L., Chenopodium album L., and Matricaria chamomilla L. (10%, 20% and 22.5%, respectively) at the end of 21 day incubation period. However, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., and Reseda lutea L. extracts stimulated chickpea seed germination at the rates of 95%, 94%, and 93%, respectively, compared to control. It was concluded that some of the weed extracts tested in this study could be used as inhibitor while others could be used as stimulator for the crops.


Quantitative 31P NMR Analysis of Lignins and Tannins.
The development of sustainable biorefinery products is confronted, among others, with the challenge of lignin and tannin valorization. These abundant, renewable aromatic biopolymers have not been widely exploited due to their inherent structural complexity and high degrees of variability and species diversity. The lack of a defined primary structure for these polyphenols is further compounded with complex chemical alterations induced during processing, eventually imparting a large variety of structural features of extreme significance for any further utilization efforts. Consequently, a protocol for the rapid, simple, and unequivocal identification and quantification of the various functional groups present in natural polyphenols, is a fundamental prerequisite for understanding and accordingly tailor their reactivity and eventual utility. Quantitative 31P NMR offers the opportunity to rapidly and reliably identify unsubstituted, o-mono substituted, and o-disubstituted phenols, aliphatic OHs, and carboxylic acid moieties in lignins and tannins with broad application potential. The methodology consists of an in situ quantitative lignin or tannin labeling procedure using a suitable 31P containing probe, followed by the acquisition of a quantitative 31P NMR spectrum in the presence of an internal standard. The high natural abundance of the 31P nucleus allows for small amounts of the sample (~30 mg) and short NMR acquisition times (~30-120 min) with well-resolved 31P signals that are highly dependent on the surrounding chemical environment of the labeled OH groups.


Effectiveness of bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) determination for monitoring pathogen infections in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase.
Serum cytokine profiles were analyzed before and after infection in children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase to explore the utility of cytokine variations for detecting infections. Serum Th1/Th2 cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon, were quantitatively determined by cytometric bead array technology in 480 cases (230 children) of children with hemopathy in the bone marrow inhibition phase with signs of infection, such as fever, and without, to establish baseline and affected levels for comparison with healthy control children. We used the cytokine profile of infected, blood culture-positive children to establish a bacterial infection-related cytokine profile (BIRCP) for predicting infections by pathogens in blood culture-negative children. Overall, 82.9% of children with Gram-negative bacterial infections were accompanied by marked increases of IL-6 and IL-10 levels [>10 times (means ± SD)], whereas only a mild increase of IL-6 levels occurred in Gram-positive bacteria-infected children [>2 times (means ± SD)] and only a mild increase of IFN-γ levels occurred in fungal culture-positive children [>2 times (means ± SD)]. Gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections did not cause a marked increase in IL-6 or IL- 10 levels. The effective rate (86.05%, N = 43) of infectious cases predicted by BIRCP was significantly higher than that obtained using traditional methods for selecting antibiotics based on clinical indications (65.45%, N = 55, P < 0.05). In summary, BIRCP can be used to predict the infections by pathogens in children with hemopathy and to select appropriate antibiotics.


Regular Sputum Check-Up for Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis after Exposure in Healthcare Facilities.
The early diagnosis of patients with TB disease is critical after an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) infection in healthcare facilities. In this study, we report a catastrophic TB outbreak in a psychiatric healthcare facility and analyze the role of regular sputum check-ups and other diagnostic tools to facilitate an early diagnosis. Every exposed participant received regular sputum check-ups and chest X-rays (CXR) as part of the outbreak management protocol. We retrospectively analyzed data from the contact participants to identify risk factors for eventual TB development and investigated the diagnostic efficacy of regular sputum check-ups. Among 133 contact participants, 16 (12.0%) developed TB during the 4-year follow-up period. Low body-mass-index (BMI) (<21) (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 3.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-8.98) and long duration of contact (>3 months) (aHR 8.70, 95% CI, 1.14-63.34) independently predicted the development of TB. Even though regular sputum check-ups required significant resources, they did facilitate the early identification of new TB cases among the contact participants. Regular sputum check-ups for high-risk patients based on BMI, contact duration and CXR findings may be a practical approach when compared with universal sputum follow-up, with a slightly decreased sensitivity but high positive likelihood ratio (88%, [95% CI, 62-98%] and 5.12, [95%CI, 3.30-7.95], respectively). While regular sputum check-ups for all contact participants facilitated the early identification of cases after the outbreak of TB in the healthcare facility, regular sputum check-ups for high-risk patients might be an effective alternative in resource-limited settings.


[Limited add-on value of oral glucose-lowering agents in type 1 diabetes].
Management of type 1 diabetes essentially relies upon intensive insulin therapy adjusted according to careful home blood glucose monitoring. The potential role of oral antidiabetic agents is controversial and what so ever is limited in type 1 diabetes. Nevertheless, metformin may still be useful in the presence of obesity and/or insulin resistance while acarbose could reduce the amplitude of glycaemic fluetuations, namely postprandial hyperglycaemia and late postmeal glycaemic nadir. Both drugs may also minimize weight gain that results from intensive insulin therapy. Finally, inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (glitpins), by inhibiting glucagon secretion, and inhibitors of renal SGLT2 cotransporters, thus promoting glucosuria independently of insulin, might also be beneficial in type 1 diabetes, although specific studies are still ongoing to verify this hypothesis.


Changing perceptions of protected area benefits and problems around Kibale National Park, Uganda.
Local residents' changing perceptions of benefits and problems from living next to a protected area in western Uganda are assessed by comparing household survey data from 2006, 2009, and 2012. Findings are contextualized and supported by long-term data sources for tourism, protected area-based employment, tourism revenue sharing, resource access agreements, and problem animal abundance. We found decreasing perceived benefit and increasing perceived problems associated with the protected area over time, with both trends dominated by increased human-wildlife conflict due to recovering elephant numbers. Proportions of households claiming benefit from specific conservation strategies were increasing, but not enough to offset crop raiding. Ecosystem services mitigated perceptions of problems. As human and animal populations rise, wildlife authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa will be challenged to balance perceptions and adapt policies to ensure the continued existence of protected areas. Understanding the dynamic nature of local people's perceptions provides a tool to adapt protected area management plans, prioritize conservation resources, and engage local communities to support protected areas.


Hypochlorite-induced alterations to canine serum complement.
Changes in the concentration of the components of complement produced by NaOC1 both in vitro and in vivo are recorded. C1, C4 and C7 are particularly sensitive to this oxidizing agent, although all components decrease at high concentrations of NaOC1. Following oxidation, complement componenets return rapidly to normal. Data are presented to indicate that part of this repair mechanism is due to the action of reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and part is due to the synthesis of the individual components. The unique sensitivity of complement components to oxidation make this treatment of potential value in suppressing the inflammatory response.


[Palliative treatment of cancers of the esophagus and cardia with YAG neodymium laser. (Preliminary noncontrolled trial)].
The aim of this study was to report results of endoscopic YAG laser therapy in palliative treatment of esophageal and cardial carcinoma. Twenty-eight patients were treated: 9 with adenocarcinoma and 19 with squamous cell carcinoma. Among these patients, 9 had complete aphagia; radiotherapy was contraindicated in 17; in the remaining 2 patients the aim of laser therapy was to achieve sufficient luminal enlargement to allow the endoscopic insertion of a prothesis. Dysphagia improved in 24 cases; destruction of a major portion of the intraluminal tumor was achieved in 17 patients, and incomplete destruction was possible in 9 patients. In one case, the treatment had no effect. Among 22 subjects in maintenance treatment, 13 good results were obtained. Several complications of laser therapy were observed: 2 cases of minor bleeding, 2 cases of esophagitis and 1 perforation of the upper esophagus. The patient died after surgical operation. It is concluded that endoscopic YAG laser therapy for palliative treatment of esophageal and cardial carcinoma is effective, providing rapid improvement of dysphagia. Maintenance treatment is necessary to sustain the improvement. Randomized studies are now needed to compare endoscopic laser therapy with other palliative treatment of malignant tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract.


The Missions of National Commissions: Mapping the Forms and Functions of Bioethics Advisory Bodies.
The findings, conclusions, and recommendations of national ethics commissions (NECs) have received considerable attention throughout the 40-year history of these groups in the United States and worldwide. However, the procedures or types of argument by which these bodies arrive at their decisions have received far less scrutiny. This paper explores how the diversity of ethical principles, concepts, or theories is featured in publications or decisions of these bodies, with particular emphasis on the need for NECs to be inclusive of pluralist positions that typically exist in contemporary democracies. The discussion is centered on the extent to which NECs may focus on providing focal frameworks, primarily framing the ethical issues at stake, or normative frameworks, additionally providing transparent justifications for any conclusions and recommendations that are made. The structure allows for assessments of the relative merits and drawbacks of different approaches in both theory and practice.


[Halcion (triazolam) in the treatment of insomnia].
A hypnotic effect of chalcion (triazolam) was studied in 24 outpatients suffering from insomnia. It was found high and beneficial in pre-, intra- and post-insomniac disorders. Side effects were mild. Characteristics of chalcion-induced sleep reached to those of physiological sleep. Chalcion was found superior to other drugs used against insomnia.


Nonparaxial propagation of elliptical Gaussian vortex beams in uniaxial crystal orthogonal to the optical axis.
Analytical expressions for the three components of nonparaxial propagation of a polarized elliptical Gaussian vortex beam in uniaxial crystal orthogonal to the optical axis are derived. Intensity and phase distributions of the three components of a polarized elliptical Gaussian vortex beam propagating in a uniaxial crystal orthogonal to the optical axis are illustrated by numerical examples. The influences of the initial beam's parameters and the parameters of the uniaxial crystal on the evolution of the beam's intensity and phase distributions in the uniaxial crystal are examined in detail. Results show that the statistical properties of an elliptical Gaussian vortex beam nonparaxially propagating in uniaxial crystal orthogonal to the optical axis are closely determined by the initial beam's parameters and the parameters of the crystal. The beam waist width ω0 not only affects the size of the beam profile in uniaxial crystal but also determines the nonparaxial effect of an elliptical Gaussian vortex beam. The profile of an elliptical Gaussian vortex beam in the uniaxial crystal becomes twisted and tilted, whether the elliptical factor α is greater or smaller than unity. The beam profile is tilted to the left in positive crystal. In contrast, it is inclined to the right in negative crystal. The results indicate that uniaxial crystal provides a convenient method to modulate the intensity and phase distributions of an elliptical Gaussian vortex beam, which is beneficial to optical manipulation of microscopic particles and nonlinear optics involving a specific beam profile and phase.


Energy distributions from a racetrack microtron measured with a magnetic spectrometer.
Energy spectra of accelerated electron beams from a racetrack microtron were measured using a magnetic spectrometer. The spectrometer utilized a 90 degrees dipole magnet. A ray-tracing program was developed to determine the slit positions of the spectrometer based on a detailed map of the magnetic field measured at field strengths corresponding to about 20 and 50 MeV. The total a priori uncertainty (previously often called systematic or class B uncertainty) of the measured most probable energy Ep is 0.22% (one approximate standard deviation) and the a posteriori uncertainty (previously often called random or class A uncertainty) is 0.04% (1 sigma). The estimated energy resolution (delta E/E) of the spectrometer is 4 x 10(-4). Spectral energy distributions of the electron beam were measured at a Ep = 21.1 and 51.6 MeV, and the obtained full width at half-maximum of the energy distributions were 53 and 34 keV, respectively. All the measurements were performed in vacuum to minimize the influence of electron energy loss and scatter.


Can we successfully teach novice junior doctors basic interventional ultrasound in a single focused training session?
Ultrasonography is recognised as an invaluable imaging modality for assessing critically unwell patients and obtaining vascular access. Senior emergency medicine and anaesthetic clinicians will regularly use ultrasound-guided imaging to establish vascular access for unwell patients; however, junior doctors, who are routinely the first clinicians to review deteriorating patients, are not encouraged or required to develop basic ultrasound interventional skills and are therefore ill equipped to use ultrasonography. To demonstrate that teaching basic interventional ultrasound skills to novice junior doctors in a single focused session is an achievable outcome. We reviewed the success of the 'Junior doctor Ultrasound Training' (JUST) course in teaching basic interventional ultrasound skills to junior clinicians. We collated information from 237 JUST delegates. We surveyed candidates' prior ultrasound experience and retrospectively analysed their level 2 Kirkpatrick formative assessment outcome following the JUST course. The overwhelming majority of doctors had no prior ultrasound experience (>95%). 99% (235) of candidates performed ultrasound to an acceptable standard to pass the formative assessment. 73% (174) achieved the course outcomes independent of faculty prompting. 1% (2) candidates failed the formative assessment. Basic ultrasound competency is an achievable educational outcome for the overwhelming majority of novice junior doctors. Our findings add to growing evidence that early ultrasound tuition can be both valuable and economical for training clinicians. By arming junior doctors with a relevant and versatile skill set, we can provide opportunity for clinicians to develop their expertise and prepare for the future challenges of clinical medicine.


Death outside hospital with special reference to heart disease.
For one year (1 September 1975-31 August 1976) an analysis was made of all deaths occurring outside hospital in the Gothenburg area (population 480 000). The total number of deaths was 1309. It was found that 675 (52%) of these deaths were caused by ischaemic heart disease (IHD), while 54 (4%) were caused by other heart diseases. The circumstances preceding death were analyzed in 363 cases representing all autopsied subjects under 75 years of age who died from IHD (autopsy rate 95%). Of these, 68% died at home, 4% during transport to hospital, and 4% at work. 214 (59%) of the deaths were witnessed, and in 189 (52%) cases, an ambulance had been called. 111 (52% died within 1 min of the onset of symptoms. 23 subject were in ventricular fibrillation on arrival at hospital. 11 of them were resuscitated, but only 3 were discharged alive. Additionally 12 of the non-autopsied subjects who died from IHD and 11 who died from other heart diseases had been witnessed and an ambulance had been called. In summary, 212 subjects who died outside hospital from heart disease in one year in Gothenburg died witnessed, and an ambulance was called. This should be the maximum annual number of cases of cardiac arrest outside hospital which it is possible to reach with a mobile coronary care organization within the time limit for effective resuscitation attempts.


[Initial description of a retinal ganglioglioma].
Gangliogliomas are very rare neuronal tumors, predominantly localized in the thalamus, third ventricle, and temporal lobe. They usually occur in younger patients, grow slowly, and their glial components may develop to malignancy. A case is reported in which a tumor was detected on the upper rim of the optic disk. The patient was then four years old. Five years later the eye hat to be enucleated because of increasing growth and vascularization of the tumor. Histologically, it consisted of mature ganglion cells and neoplastic glial cells. Six years later, in addition to the glial hamartoma, a vascular hamartoma, i.e., a hemangioblastoma of the cerebellum, was found, this tumor was extirpated.


Collaborative learning experiences for nursing students in environmental health.
Recognition that the environment is a determinant of health is deeply rooted in the heritage of nursing. Environmental hazards and their effects on health rarely have simple solutions that can be managed by one discipline alone. Environmental health issues are complex in nature and the science is developing rapidly. Primary prevention strategies often involve the participation of professionals from fields other than nursing, and interdisciplinary, collaborative efforts are usually required. This article describes learning experiences about local environmental health issues, several of which were designed to initiate and foster collaboration between baccalaureate nursing students and graduate students in public health.


The in vitro neuromuscular activity of Indo-Pacific sea-snake venoms: efficacy of two commercially available antivenoms.
We examined the neurotoxicity of the following sea snake venoms: Enhydrina schistosa (geographical variants from Weipa and Malaysia), Lapemis curtus (Weipa and Malaysia), Laticauda colubrina, Aipysurus laevis, Aipysurus fuscus and Aipysurus foliosquamatus. Venom from a terrestrial snake, Notechis scutatus (tiger snake), was used as a reference. All venoms (1 and 3 microg/ml) abolished indirect twitches of the chick biventer cervicis muscle and significantly inhibited responses to ACh (1 mM) and CCh (20 microM), but not KCl (40 mM), indicating the presence of post-synaptic toxins. Prior administration (10 min) of CSL sea snake antivenom (1 unit/ml) attenuated the twitch blockade produced by N. scutatus venom and all sea snake venoms (1 microg/ml). Prior administration (10 min) of CSL tiger snake antivenom (1 unit/ml) attenuated the twitch blockade of all venoms except those produced by E. schistosa (Malaysia and Weipa) and A. foliosquamatus. Administration of CSL sea snake antivenom (1 unit/ml) at t90 (i.e. time at which 90% inhibition of initial twitch height occurred) reversed the inhibition of twitches (20-50%) produced by the sea snake venoms (1 microg/ml) but not by N. scutatus venom (1 microg/ml). CSL tiger snake antivenom (1 unit/ml) administered at t90 produced only minor reversal (i.e. 15-25%) of the twitch blockade caused by L. curtus (Weipa), A. foliosquamatus, L. colubrina and A. laevis venoms (1 microg/ml). Differences in the rate of reversal of the neurotoxicity produced by the two geographical variants of E. schistosa venom, after addition of CSL sea snake antivenom, indicate possible differences in venom components. This study shows that sea snake venoms contain potent post-synaptic activity that, despite the significant genetic distances between the lineages, can be neutralised with CSL sea snake antivenom. However, the effects of CSL tiger snake antivenom are more variable.


The risk and prognostic factors for G1 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A retrospective analysis of the SEER database.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) for which little is known about their clinical features, treatment options, and survival prognosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors affecting the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with grade 1 pNETs (G1 pNETs) and to provide a new theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. A retrospective analysis of individuals with G1 pNETs registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) database was performed. Risk factors affecting OS and CSS were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards model, and Fine-Gray competing-risk model. A total of 751 patients were included, most of whom were white (77.2%) women (53.9%) under the age of 60 years (54.9%), of whom 66 died of pNETs (8.78%) and 34 died of other causes (4.52%). Patients who were older than 60 years at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.866, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.242-2.805) had worse OS. And stage in the regional extent (HR = 1.777, 95% CI: 1.006-3.137) or distance extent (HR = 4.540, 95% CI: 2.439-8.453) had worse OS. Patients who delayed treatment after diagnosis had shorter CSS (delayed treatment < 1 month: HR = 1.933, 95% CI: 0.863-4.333; delayed treatment ≥ 1 month: HR = 2.208; 95% CI:1.047-4.654). Patients with lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.989, 95% CI: 1.137-3.479) or distant metastasis (HR = 5.625, 95% CI: 1.892-16.726) had worse CSS. Acceptance of surgery can significantly improve the patient's OS and CSS. OS (partial pancreatectomy [PP]: HR = 0.350, 95% CI: 0.182-0.672; pancreatectomy and duodenectomy [PD]: HR = 0.426, 95% CI: 0.222-0.815; total pancreatectomy [TP]: HR = 0.495, 95% CI: 0.193-1.267). CSS(PP: HR = 0.148, 95% CI: 0.0054-0.401; PD: HR = 0.332, 95% CI: 0.150-0.730; TP: HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.254-1.872). Age and stage were identified as independent risk factors for OS. Delayed treatment, N stage and M stage were independent risk factors for CSS. Only surgery was identified as independent protective factors for OS and CSS.


Forming and removing stain precipitates on ultrathin sections.
Stain precipitates resulting from the use of lead or uranyl salts, or both, on ultrathin sections can be classified as belonging to one of three morphological types: I) extremely electron-dense particles caused by prolonged use of lead salts only, II) amorphous networks formed following double staining with either aqueous or alcoholic uranyl and lead salts, and III) crystalline needles sometimes resulting from double staining with alcoholic uranyl and lead salts. It has been found, however, that either acetic acid or aqueous uranyl acetate can be used to remove type I and type II precipitates from sections, and that oxalic acid and alcoholic uranyl solution will remove type II precipitates. Unfortunately, type III precipitates are unaffected by any agents tested so far.


Trefoil Factor Expression in a Human Model of the Early Stages of Barrett's Esophagus.
Trefoil proteins are believed to have an important role in mucosal protection and repair in the gastrointestinal tract. They are well recognized in Barrett's esophagus and considered a potential biomarker for the condition. Metaplasia occurring in the esophageal remnant after esophagectomy is a human model for the early stages of development of Barrett's esophagus. To assess expression of trefoil proteins in post-esophagectomy columnar epithelium and to use trefoils as a molecular tool to understand regenerative mucosa in the esophagus. Patients with columnar metaplasia in the esophageal remnant were recruited from a large esophago-gastric cancer center. Trefoil factor expression was determined using immunohistochemical techniques. Samples were obtained from 37 patients. TFF1 and TFF2 were expressed by all samples in a similar pattern to that described in studies of sporadic Barrett's esophagus. TFF3 was less widely expressed and was significantly associated with time elapsed between surgery and endoscopy. Median time from surgery to endoscopy was 8.1 years for patients with TFF3 expression versus 3.4 years for those without (p = 0.004). Widespread expression of trefoils in this environment suggests that these proteins have an important role in development of Barrett's metaplasia. TFF3 expression may be absent in the early stages of metaplasia and may represent more established columnar epithelium. Biopsy samples from post-esophagectomy patients provide a valuable resource to study the early stages of Barrett's esophagus.


Ionic Liquid Anion Controlled Nanoscale Gold Morphology Grown at a Liquid Interface.
Two different ionic liquids comprising the tetrabutylphosphonium cation ([P4444]) paired with the strongly coordinating anions 6-aminocaproate ([6-AC]) or taurinate ([tau]) were prepared and employed in an aqueous/organic liquid bilayer system to generate nanoscale gold by Au(OH)4- photoreduction. Generally, as the concentration of ionic liquid in the organic phase was increased, the resulting quasi-spherical gold nanoparticles were smaller in size and presented less aggregation, leading to marked increases in the catalytic efficiency for 4-nitrophenol reduction using borohydride. The diffusion of the ionic liquids across the liquid/liquid interface was also investigated, revealing partition coefficients of 6.0 and 7.6 for [P4444][6-AC] and [P4444][tau], respectively. Control studies elucidated that biphasic interfacial reduction was necessary to achieve stable nanoparticles possessing high catalytic activity. When the ionic liquid anion was instead replaced by the weakly coordinating bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf2N]), photoreduction of Au(OH)4- led to holey, wavy gold nanowires instead of spherical nanoparticles, indicating the dramatic morphological control exerted by the coordination strength of the ionic liquid anion. This strategy is straightforward and simple and opens up a number of intriguing avenues for controllably preparing plasmonic colloids for a range of applications from catalysis to optical sensing.


Laterality of onset in idiopathic torsion dystonia.
Idiopathic torsion dystonia (ITD) is a dominantly inherited disorder with incomplete penetrance. It is important to identify factors that may cause dystonia or prevent its occurrence in a genetically predisposed individual. Because dystonia may be precipitated by peripheral triggers, we have investigated whether the preferential use of a limb affects the development of dystonia. Analysis of the correlation between the side of motor dominance and the limbs in which dystonic symptoms first appeared was performed in 49 patients with ITD ascertained in a country-wide survey in Israel. The dominant motor side was determined in 45 cases (92%). Among 29 patients with lateralized limb onset, 24 showed right-side motor dominance, of whom 21 had dystonia onset in a right limb. The first sign was in a left limb for all five cases with left-side motor dominance (90% coincidence). The pattern of limb involvement was studied. Detection bias could be ruled out. The highly significant relationship between the motor dominance and the laterality of limb onset in ITD patients suggests that the preferred use of a limb may trigger the onset of dystonia.


Self-Passivation of Defects: Effects of High-Energy Particle Irradiation on the Elastic Modulus of Multilayer Graphene.
The elastic modulus of multilayer graphene is found to be more robust to damage created by high-energy α-particle irradiation as compared to monolayer graphene. Theoretical analysis indicates that irradiation of multilayer graphene generates interlayer links that potentially increase the stiffness of the multilayer by passivating local defects.


The Effects of Open Innovation Based on Mergers and Acquisitions on Innovative Behavior of Enterprises: Evidence From Chinese Listed Enterprises.
Finding the factors driving enterprise innovation behavior from multiple dimensions is of great significance for promoting enterprise innovation. Open innovation based on overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has become one of the main ways for enterprises to obtain knowledge and technology. However, there is still no agreement on whether open innovation based on overseas M&A can promote innovation behavior of enterprises. Based on data from M&A transaction and enterprise patent of China's Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2018, this study constructs a propensity score matching and difference-in-difference model from the perspective of innovation performance and innovation investment empirically studies the influence of open innovation mode based on overseas M&A on the innovation behavior of enterprises and finds that open innovation based on overseas M&A can significantly promote the innovation performance and innovation investment. Meanwhile dynamic effects test shows this promotion effect is sustainable; it reaches the maximum in the year of overseas M&A and decreases in the next two years. In addition, the impacts are heterogeneous due to enterprise ownership and enterprise technology intensity. The findings extends the scope of understanding innovation behavior of enterprises from overseas M&A and provide solid evidence of significant business implications for the promotion of entrepreneurial innovation.


The slow-onset nature of allosteric inhibition in α-isopropylmalate synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mediated by a flexible loop.
The identification of structure-function relationships in allosteric enzymes is essential to describing a molecular mechanism for allosteric processes. The enzyme α-isopropylmalate synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtIPMS) is subject to slow-onset, allosteric inhibition by l-leucine. Here we report that alternate amino acids act as rapid equilibrium noncompetitive inhibitors of MtIPMS failing to display biphasic inhibition kinetics. Amino acid substitutions on a flexible loop covering the regulatory binding pocket generate enzyme variants that have significant affinity for l-leucine but lack biphasic inhibition kinetics. Taken together, these results are consistent with the flexible loop mediating the slow-onset step of allosteric inhibition.


[How a Diversity of Preschool Literary Experiences Contribute to Emergent Literacy Skills].
Past studies show that language and cognitive factors among young children do not explain individual differences in written language skill acquisition (Sénéchal et LeFevre, 2002). Working from the principles of ethology and sociology, Pellegrini (2001) suggests that exposure to a larger variety of social contacts and contexts promotes the acquisition of literary language and reading/writing skills. The purpose of this study is to check the contribution of a variety of social writing-related opportunities to the acquisition of emerging literacy skills in 5 year-olds. This contribution is examined alongside family financial resources, parental education, frequency of mother-child reading/writing activities, and the child's verbal and mnemonic skills. The results partially confirm Pellegrini's hypothesis and support the relevance of considering several dimensions of preschool social experience. The unique contribution of diverse literary activities for 4 year-olds (48 months) seems to be as important as receptive vocabulary and short term memory, evaluated at 42 months. However, a larger variety of contacts was not added to the model.


Distribution of ascorbic acid analogs and associated glycosides in mushrooms.
Mushrooms contain reducing substances with chemical properties similar to ascorbic acid (AsA). In this study, the four types of reducing substances contained in Flammulina velutipes (Enokitake), Hypsizigus mamoreus (Bunashimeji), Pholiota nameko (Nameko), and Grifola frondosa (Maitake) were respectively purified, and the structure of each was analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other methods. The results confirmed that those substances were AsA analogs and associated glycosides (6-deoxy-AsA, 6-deoxy-5-O-(alpha-D-xylopyranosyl)-AsA, 6-deoxy-5-O-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-AsA, and 5-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-erythro-AsA). These substances were characteristic in that saccharide was bonded with the C-5 of the AsA analogs. Osazones were formed from the reducing substances in 19 kinds of edible mushrooms. Using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), they were developed to examine the distribution of the above reducing substances and AsA. The results showed that at least one of the above compounds was certain to be present in any mushroom; that AsA was present in very small quantities if at all; and that several substances similar to the above compounds were present.


Paradoxical upregulation of glutamatergic presynaptic boutons during mild cognitive impairment.
Synaptic integrity is now recognized as a central component of Alzheimer's disease. Surprisingly, however, the structural status of glutamatergic synapses in Alzheimer's disease is unclear, despite the fact that glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter of the CNS and has key roles in excitotoxicity and long-term potentiation. The identification of specific markers of glutamatergic neurons now allows an assessment of the structural involvement of the glutamatergic system across progressive stages of the Alzheimer's pathology, an opportunity not afforded by previously used neurochemical approaches. Glutamatergic presynaptic bouton density and dystrophic neurite abundance were quantified in midfrontal gyrus brain tissue from subjects with no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or mild- or severe-stage Alzheimer's disease. Our study demonstrates a striking pathology-dependent pattern of glutamatergic synaptic remodeling with disease progression. Subjects with mild cognitive impairment display a paradoxical elevation in glutamatergic presynaptic bouton density, a situation akin to that observed in the cholinergic system, which then depletes and drops with disease progression. This pattern of synaptic remodeling mirrors our previous findings in transgenic animal models and is of major relevance to current transmitter-based therapeutics.


Evidence for hematotoxicity and tumorigenesis in rats exposed to 100 ppm benzene.
A group of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats was exposed to 100 ppm benzene for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for life. Another group of 40 rats received air under the same exposure regimen. During the exposures, treated rats exhibited continuously depressed peripheral erythrocyte and lymphocyte counts. Although the incidences of these peripheral cell depressions were statistically significant, the magnitudes of the depressions were not. Histopathologic evaluation revealed that splenic hemosiderin pigments were much more prevalent in exposed rats than in controls, indicating either red cell hemolysis or ineffective erythropoiesis. The mortality-corrected tumor incidences between exposed and control mice were not statistically different. However, several exposed rats died with tumors that, because of their rare spontaneous incidence, are most likely treatment-related. Four rats died with liver tumors, two died with zymbal gland carcinoma, and one died with chronic myelogenous leukemia.


Probing the S1' site for the identification of non-zinc-binding MMP-2 inhibitors.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes involved in several pathological states. Among them, MMP-2 is a relevant therapeutic target because of its role in cancer development and progression. Many MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) have been discovered over the last 30 years, and the majority of them contain a functional group that binds the zinc ion (zinc-binding group; ZBG). Unfortunately, no MMPIs have reached the market yet, owing to toxic effects due to unselective interactions of the ZBG. The new generation of MMPIs that do not bind the zinc ion could overcome problems of selectivity and toxicity, but have so far been developed only for MMP-8, -12, and -13. In this work, a virtual screening protocol was established by combining ligand- and structure-based methods to identify non-zinc-binding MMP-2 inhibitors using a new-generation MMP-8 inhibitor as a probe to find unexplored interactions in the MMP-2 S1' site. The screening allowed the identification of micromolar MMP-2 inhibitors that putatively avoid binding the zinc ion, as demonstrated by docking calculations. The LIA model, built to correlate predicted and experimental binding energies of the identified non-zinc-binding MMP-2 hits, underpins the reliability of the predicted docking poses.


Selection of patients with lower limb arterial occlusive disease for endovascular treatment of the iliac arteries with duplex scanning.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of duplex scanning in selection of patients with lower limb arterial occlusive disease for endovascular treatment of the iliac arteries. From January 1995 through May 2000, 183 patients having chronic lower limb arterial insufficiency who underwent duplex scanning of the lower extremity arteries with available aortoiliac scans within 3 months before conventional aortoiliac diagnostic angiography and/or endovascular intervention of the iliac arteries were studied retrospectively. The findings obtained from duplex scanning and angiography were analyzed in a blinded manner by 2 investigators. Limbs having category 1, 2, and 3 lesions according to duplex scan findings were interpreted as being suitable for endovascular intervention. The comparison between duplex scan findings and angiography was analyzed by the third investigator. During 93 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures, 133 arterial segments, common or external iliac, were dilated with stent placement in 70. Bilateral interventions were performed in 25 cases, and of 68 unilateral interventions, 57 were at only 1 arterial segment. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of duplex scanning to appropriately categorize the iliac artery lesions into suitable or unsuitable for endovascular intervention were 90%, 95%, 83%, 90%, and 92%, respectively when the inconclusive duplex scans were excluded (11%). In 6 patients with lesions suitable for PTA according to duplex scanning and angiography, PTA was not performed owing to clinical reasons. The accuracy of duplex scanning in predicting the performance of endovascular intervention was 88%. It is concluded that iliac artery endovascular procedures in limbs with chronic occlusive disease can be reliably planned according to duplex scan findings.


Characteristics of qacA/B-positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients and a hospital environment in China.
This study was designed to demonstrate the characteristics of qacA/B-positive Staphylococcus aureus in China. One hundred and forty-five MRSA and 178 MSSA from clinical specimens from seven hospitals in different regions of China, 70 MRSA from superficial sites of patients and 106 MRSA from environmental samples from an ICU were collected and screened for the presence of the qacA/B gene. The qacA/B-positive isolates and 72 randomly selected qacA/B-negative control isolates were further characterized by MLST, spa typing and detection of toxin genes, as well as antimicrobial and chlorhexidine susceptibility. SCCmec typing was conducted for MRSA. PFGE was conducted for qacA/B-positive isolates. Twenty-five (7.8%) of the 321 MRSA isolates harboured qacA/B, including 11 isolates from clinical specimens (7.6%), 12 isolates from patients' superficial sites (17.1%) and 2 isolates from an ICU environment (1.9%). Ten and five qacA/B-positive MRSA were identified as ST239-t030-MRSA-III and ST239-t037-MRSA-III, respectively. Six PFGE clusters and five singletons were identified among the 25 qacA/B-positive MRSA. Only one (0.6%) of the 178 MSSA isolates harboured qacA/B. qacA/B carriage in MRSA was statistically associated with spa-t037 and the presence of mupA. Compared with qacA/B-negative MRSA, the qacA/B-positive MRSA exhibited a lower susceptibility to chlorhexidine and higher resistance rates to clindamycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Carriage of qacA/B, although it had a low prevalence, might be the main reason for declining susceptibility to chlorhexidine in MRSA from Chinese patients and is probably associated with spa-t037 and the presence of the mupA gene.


[Fibrous tissue(s): a key for lesion characterization in digestive diseases].
Fibrosis is one of the hallmarks of inflammatory and repair processes in pathology. Various exogenous and endogenous stimuli, including tumor development, can induce inflammatory reactions. During the post-equilibrium phase after IV injection of non specific contrast media, CT and/or MR allow the study of these inflammatory answers to tumoral or infectious processes. Delayed enhancement of collagenic fibrous tissue during the late post-equilibrium phase is an essential complementary data in the characterization of many liver lesions: cirrhosis, cholangiocarcinoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, fibrous metastasis. but also for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic diseases (groove pancreatitis vs ductal adenocarcinoma) or of gastro-intestinal diseases (gastric adenocarcinoma vs lymphoma, mechanical complication vs inflammatory bouts of ileal Crohn's disease).